here - Health Promotion Agency

What you need for the baby
SA FETY
Pillows and duvets are not
safe for babies less than a
year old because of the risk
of suffocation. Duvets can
also make the baby too hot.
Baby nests and quilted
sleeping bags are not suitable
for your baby to sleep in at
any time when you are not
there, again because of the
danger of suffocation.
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BATHING
•
Any large, clean bowl will do as
long as it’s not metal. Or you can
always use the sink, but
remember to wrap a towel round
the taps for safety.
• You need baby soap or liquid
which can also be used on babies’
hair. Ordinary toilet soap may
irritate your baby’s skin. It isn’t
necessary to use baby shampoo.
•
Two towels, the softer the better.
There’s no need for special baby
towels, unless you want them.
Keep the towels for your baby’s
use only.
S LEEPING
For the first few months, you will
need a crib, a carry cot or a Moses
basket. Your baby just needs
somewhere to sleep that is safe and
warm and not too far away from
you. You also need:
• a firm mattress, which must fit
the cot snugly, without leaving
spaces round the edges – the baby
could trap his or her head and
suffocate. It’s best if the mattress
has a built-in plastic cover but, if
not, you can put a waterproof
sheet under the bottom sheet
(never use thin plastic or a bin
liner as your baby could suffocate
in the loose folds);
•
sheets to cover the mattress – you
need at least four because they
need to be changed so often –
fitted sheets make life easy but
they are quite expensive; you
could use pieces of old sheet or
pillow cases instead;
• several light blankets for safety
and warmth.
COT SAFETY
Your baby will spend many hours
alone in a cot so make sure it’s safe.
• The mattress must fit snugly with
no space for a baby’s head to get
stuck.
•
The bars must be smooth,
securely fixed and the distance
between each bar should be not
less than 25 mm and not more
than 60 mm so that your baby’s
head can’t become trapped.
• The cot should be sturdy.
•
The moving parts should work
smoothly and not allow fingers or
clothing to become trapped.
• Cot bumpers are not
recommended as babies can
overheat or become entangled
in the fastenings.
•
Never leave anything with ties –
bibs, clothes, etc. – in the cot in
case they get caught around your
baby’s neck.
• If you’re buying a new cot, look
for the British Standard mark
BS 1753.
See page 121 for more information
on reducing the risk of cot death.
This baby is sleeping in the ‘feet to foot’ position (see
page 121). This means that the baby’s feet are right at
the end of the cot to prevent the baby wriggling under
the covers and overheating.